Catholic schools and inclusive education in Macao A journey of a thousand miles

Since the establishment of St. Paul’s College, the first Western-like University in East Asia, Catholic education has had an enduring presence in Macao’s educational landscape. Filling the gap in educational provision during the period of Portuguese administration, Catholic schools still comprise 36.4% of the non-tertiary educational service delivery in the Macao Special Administrative Region. As in many other regions, these schools emerged in Macao out of a concern for the education of the poor and the most vulnerable. However, over time the educational projects of Catholic schools have evolved to adapt to a community which is by and far non-Catholic. At present time the local atmosphere of academic competition and social selectivity flows into Catholic schools, altering their identity and narrowing their educational mission. This paper discusses the state of Catholic schooling in Macao concerning one of the tenets of Catholicism: the inclusion of and service to those who are in poverty or marginalised due to their social, cultural, political or personal differences. The present empirical research aims in particular to understand how Catholic schools in Macao are meeting the needs of students with learning difficulties and disabilities. Weaknesses concerning the gap between principles and practices are identified. Building on cross-national experiences, suggestions for best practices towards inclusive education are presented.